Boy name · English
Franklin
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: freemanFranklin is a boy's name that comes from English and means "freeman". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Freeman
- Origin
- English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #359 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Franklin
As a boy's name, Franklin comes from English and means "freeman". It is used in English.
Franklin is also a surname: the 264th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 115,358 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Franklin on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Franklin on 1 list.
“Freeman; English. Shared with Benjamin and President Roosevelt”
From Old man names, distinguished old man names
How popular is Franklin?
- US rank in 2025
- #359
- 909 babies, 532 per million boys
- Best rank
- #33 in 1933
- 5,363 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 141,728
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 1,002 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 864 per million |
| 1900s | 881 per million |
| 1910s | 1,199 per million |
| 1920s | 1,135 per million |
| 1930s | 2,497 per million |
| 1940s | 1,297 per million |
| 1950s | 841 per million |
| 1960s | 721 per million |
| 1970s | 566 per million |
| 1980s | 446 per million |
| 1990s | 366 per million |
| 2000s | 275 per million |
| 2010s | 336 per million |
| 2020s | 467 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #423 | #437 | #436 | #422 | #414 | #395 | #407 | #408 | #388 | #359 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Franklin
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- FrankieA frenchman (Latin, unisex)
Middle names for Franklin
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from English
- AinsleyFrom a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing (English, unisex)
- ArmstrongStrong in the arm (English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- ScottFrom Scotland (English, boy)
- AceFrom the English word ace, highest rank (English, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- AndersonSon of Andrew (English, boy)
- ArloMeaning uncertain; perhaps from Spenser's Arlo Hill (English, boy)
- AyrtonSettlement on the River Aire (English, boy)
- BayA sheltered curve of coast (English, unisex)
- BensonFrom a surname meaning son of Benedict (English, boy)
- BrysonFrom a surname meaning son of Brice (English, boy)
- CarterCart driver (English, boy)
- CedarFragrant evergreen tree (English, boy)
- ChaseHunter (English, boy)
- ColterFrom a surname for a keeper of horses (English, boy)
- CooperBarrel maker (English, boy)
- CrewFrom the English word crew, a group of people (English, boy)
Franklin: common questions
What does the name Franklin mean?
Franklin comes from English and means "freeman".
Is Franklin a boy or girl name?
Franklin is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Franklin come from?
Franklin comes from English and means "freeman". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Franklin?
Franklin ranked #359 in the US in 2025, with 909 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Franklin?
Names spelled like Franklin include Frankie.
What middle names go with Franklin?
Middle names that flow well with Franklin include David, Eli, Hugh, Jonah and Jude. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.